Tag Archives: parties

Music is for life

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Imagine the scene; a launch party for your new wine bar has finally been arranged and there is the sound of people talking and laughter -in the background is a professional pianist. A complete success and the right ambience has been created making you stand out a little from the competitors.

A wonderful sound of classical instruments being played is second to none, the haunting sounds of a Harpist, or the classical sound of a Pianist, the timeless sound of a Violist or a string quartet. If you wanted an upmarket affair than these are the artists to hire.

Solo musicians albeit a group of musicians they will add that extra je ne sais quoi to your special event. Karaoke has become the world’s most favourite entertainment, we are all closet singers but put a microphone in front of us when we’ve had a few sherbets and we turn into Shirley Bassey or Tom Jones!!

Live band karaoke takes traditional karaoke to another level where your live band can play along with you – so if you do make a few mistakes then your live band is able to pick up where you left behind (making you look like the star you were born to be!!) You must admit this would be great fun to hire this at a Wedding, Birthday or even a corporate event where even the shyest of persons will turn into a Diva for the night!!

Why not get some culture in your life and hire some Latin or Middle Eastern music musicians? The mystique of beautiful ladies and gentlemen dancing to this music, it could be belly dancing or Salsa – the rhythm is definitely going to get you!!

Motown and Soul is the best music of days gone by, it was so cool, black soulful funky groups to the delightful sound of Diana Ross.

Motown really turned the music industry around and today we still hear sampled copies of Motown and Soul being used today – but Motown and Soul is most synonymous with the outlandish clothing and big hair!!!

Whatever your memories of Motown and Soul bands, no doubt it will always have a place in your heart. Why not hire a tribute band so they can play all your favourite songs in that era, and maybe have a fancy dress too – now that would definitely be fun!!!

To hire only the best just look on the Red Masque directory to find just what you’ve been looking for to give your special event that extra special sparkle!!

Take the headache out of searching

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We at Red Masque entertainment have a limitless amount of options and inspiration. But what if you don’t have the time, will power or experience to trawl through the 17,500 female solo singers that Google throws up? Well, then it’s time to call in the professionals. And that’s where an entertainment directory can come in handy.

If you’re in the process of planning something big, using an entertainment directory uses only the best out there that are reputable and highly acclaimed

What’s the one thing you remember about a great party, above all else? As a guest, you’re there to have a good time. And if it’s a good time you want your own guests to have, then you need to put a little thought into the entertainment.

Gone are the days when you had to book a one-man DJ to play 70s floor-fillers all night. Now, you can find party entertainment that keeps your diverse range of wedding guests happy, making the party start with a bang.

The best musicians aren’t necessarily the best hype men; the most amazing magician won’t necessarily be the best web designer – one of the changes in entertainment since the internet has been the focus on promo material rather than word of mouth or reputation. That means the bands with the flashiest websites and the slickest videos often get more attention than their less media savvy counterparts. Consequently, there are plenty of hidden gems out there who, instead of improving their Search Engine Optimisation or video editing techniques, have focused on just being great performers.

We, like many entertainment directory’s, make it our business to know as much about our party and corporate event entertainment as possible. by reading up on new performers and much more. We know the best act for your event and 5 equally brilliant alternatives if the first choice isn’t available.

It just goes to show there’s only so far your own web searches will take you. If you want something a bit different, something to appeal to all the ages and tastes of your guests, something to get your party started as it means to go on, Red Masque is definitely a good way to avoid a headache. After all, it’s your party too.

Wedding Anniversary ideas

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Wedding anniversaries are among the most joyous celebrations in a person’s life, and unlike birthday celebrations, you actually get to pick the date!

But, year after year, it can become difficult to think of fun, new ways to celebrate your marriage. So we’ve put together some tips for you to do something wonderful with your partner this year!

So, your first thought is dinner at an elegant restaurant? That’s great, it’s a classic, and classics are classic for a reason. But how about sprucing it up a bit? First of all, make sure the restaurant is nice, as nice as you can. It’s your anniversary, after all. Then, instead of simply driving to the restaurant, why not have a Horse Drawn Carriage take you there? Or a Limo? Afterward, take your partner on a lovely stroll and have a Singer waiting to serenade them. This is a great way to make a regular date-night activity turn into a beautiful memory!

Maybe you don’t like to keep it simple. Or private. Maybe you want to throw a huge party with all your friends. For a real bash, there are some essentials we strongly recommend for you. First, a Bartender. This is a must. Nothing simplifies the logistics of an event like designating someone specifically to the alcohol. Second, a DJ, Cover Band, or a Dance Band– music, in other words. Rent some Tables & Chairs if you’re looking for a more formal affair, and hire a Caterer if you think guests will stop dancing long enough to eat. A bash is a joyful way to celebrate the love in your marriage, as well as the life you’ve created together.

Depending on how long you’ve been married, recreating your wedding can be a fun throwback to your younger lives. Hire a Cover Band to play the same songs and ask your guests to show up in era-appropriate attire. Decorate the party with pictures of the wedding, which should incite stories and remembrances from times gone by. Nothing shows you how much has changed like going back and remembering how it all began.

This one’s for the strong couples, the ones with a serious sense of humour. Divide up the roasters by partner, so that each one gets lampooned evenly. Hire a Stand-up Comedian to bring some professional legitimacy to the proceedings. Consider booking a Cover Band or a DJ for some filler music. A Roast works both as an anniversary celebration and a test of your marriage!

Who says an anniversary has to be celebrated with a party? Why take your partner on a trip? What better way to honour the adventure of a marriage by creating a new adventure? Travel anywhere– fly abroad or a romantic cruise. No matter where you go, you and your partner will be a team, discovering the world.
We hoped we’ve helped you and your partner make the best of your special day. Always remember: the whole point of an anniversary is to take time to honour your marriage. So don’t worry too much about planning the perfect event. As long as you spend it with your partner, we have a feeling your anniversary’s going to be wonderful.

Father’s Day entertainment ideas

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Father’s day will be here quicker than you know it! Here at Red Masque, we’re committed to making everything just a little more unique, and that means it’s time for some great Father’s Day entertainment ideas.

So, what is the best type of entertainment to get Dad for Father’s Day? Well, he might like one of our burlesque dancers, but that might not be the best Father’s Day gift. So, maybe we should look at some other great options…

Fathers put a lot of energy into raising their children, so why not celebrate Father’s Day by surprising them with breakfast in bed? For a fancy breakfast, hire a personal chef to get everything ready. Although when it comes to delivering breakfast in bed, we’re not sure that we would recommend sending a stranger into his bedroom, but there’s a good chance that Dad is always out of bed at least a few hours before you, so here are a few options for celebrations a bit later in the day.

What kind of music did Dad really love back in his younger days; back when he would whisk mum away to a concert, stay out well into the night, and wake up without a screaming baby demanding food? Why not surprise him with a blast from the past by a 60’s tribute band to come and play just for him? How amazing would that be?!

But if your dad doesn’t listen to music, we mean not the same kind of music we listen to, at least. But he still loves to be surprised and entertained, so there are other choices. Singing telegrams are certainly music, and we believe they would help to bridge the gap between your music and your father’s music. Everyone loves a great jingle, and if you hurry and book a singing telegram now, they’ll have more time to create a customized message. For an extra treat, you can even go for a singing telegram or special birthday message delivered by a celebrity impersonator. Maybe “Happy Father’s Day, Mr. President” isn’t quite as sultry and scandalous as the original Marilyn Monroe ditty, but it would certainly make a great surprise!

Whatever you decide to choose for the perfect Father’s Day gift, Red Masque is here to help. Take a look at all the great entertainment we have to offer.

Creative ideas for your next event

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Circus act entertainers have given the world of corporate entertainment a whole new generation of aerial artists, defying gravity to present unique. Even if you haven’t got a skyscraper to use as your stage, these circus-inspired artists can perform in almost any space, for any corporate event.

Aerialists use aerial circus and dance theatre with dynamic lighting and music to create evocative shows using trapeze, ropes and silks. Available as a solo artist for smaller venue, or as large a troupe as you wish, their show can be tailored to create the atmosphere you require, whether humorous, quirky, elegant. With a range of associated acts, including aerial champagne pouring, we are sure you will find your perfect act on our website.

Here at Red Masque we think we are tooled with some of the best party entertainers which will capture your imagination. So, what are the best of the best for corporate entertainment acts for your next corporate event in 2017? Red Masque directory have the hottest trends and acts for corporate, and company parties to ensure your VIPs are very impressed and your boss is very happy.

Offer your guests a total 007 experience: an elegant stately home or iconic venue, set up as a celebrity lookalike James Bond complete with elegant hostesses serving martinis (shaken not stirred by expert cocktail waiters). Then add some party musical entertainment combining iconic Bond movie soundtracks and characters with dance and spectacle, such as a top party function band with a James Bond set.

Add in some more celebrity lookalikes and a John Cleese lookalike the ‘new’ Q, who sets your guests site-specific missions to test their skills.

Bespoke dance groups provide a superb spectacle that transcends language, and can be precisely tailored to your corporate event theme. From ballet dancers to contemporary rock dancers, your guests can enjoy a show full of energy, passion, augmented by state of the lighting and sound systems.

Whatever the occasion, you’ll find a dance troupe to suit; that can offer themed events such as Arabian Nights, Argentinean Tango, Burlesque, Flamenco, Irish Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, and Vegas Showgirls for example.

Plan the ultimate surprise

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When planning an event, you want to keep your guests entertained throughout, so the energy and enjoyment never dips. Giving them something new just when they are least expecting it is a great way to create a buzz, and to give guests something to talk about apart from the food or the football! And nothing fits the bill quite like a surprise act, be it singing tramps, waiters, or chefs.

Hiring singing tramps, policemen, firemen and a whole host of other comedy singing acts from Red Masque directory to make your event unforgettable. Discover what surprise party entertainment we offer and how they’ll positively impact your event!

The idea is hilarious and very realistic, your guests sit down to a meal and look in horror when they are sharing a table with a tramp that has seemingly wandered in. He looks unkempt and is scratching his head (and other bits) in fact, unbeknown to them he is a highly talented singer, ready to grab a microphone and burst into song. Then a waiter starts to sing, another suddenly joins in, and then a ‘guest’ can’t seem to resist joining in either. It’s particularly effective during a formal dinner.

It’s a great way of breaking up a meal and giving your guests something hugely entertaining when they are least expecting it!

What the guests see, of course, is just the end product of a great deal of planning and preparation. Professional entertainment acts make sure that everyone behind the scenes is in the know and fully prepared, while the real guests haven’t a clue what’s going on! It’s also about preparing a scenario that is perfect for your event.

Christmas events to be planned

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Plan your next Christmas event as early as you can to avoid disappointment. If you want to create your own winter experience, either for a party, corporate event or business attraction, here are a few hints from Red Masque directory to make your Christmas event something special!

If you want a show as part of your Christmas party, you’ll need an inside space or warm, dry and well-appointed marquee to hold it in. Acts that look great in marquees include:

• Circus acts, especially aerialists, or silk acrobats!

• Dance groups who can fill the performance area with music, movement and style!

• Party bands that can play in all those cheesy pop hits we love at Xmas!

Make your event great by having sheer variety of entertainment on offer. So, offer lots of different acts to see, rather than one big attraction and people will enjoy the event more.

• Walkabout acts really are great and so are costumed characters, ice characters and stilt walkers.

• Generate a warm feeling with fire acts to light up the winter darkness

• Conjure up the magic of Christmas with street magicians performing close-up tricks and illusions

Food and Drink

• Hire a hog roast or BBQ for outside cooked goodies

• Offer traditional treats such as roasted chestnuts and mulled wine that fill the air with deliciously Christmas smells!

• Have a Christmas cocktail bar, decorated with ice sculptures serving frosted cocktails or frozen daiquiris (and non-alcoholic drinks for the drivers)

Visitors love interactive experiences. They don’t have to be very fancy, just lots of fun for any age.

• Turn traditional side stalls into Christmas fun, such as a snowball coconut shy.

• Book a winter or “Frozen” themed bouncy castle with integrated rain cover, so the weather doesn’t stop the fun

• Get your skates on and book an artificial ice rink – all the fun, none of the wet! Most ice rink suppliers offer a complete package with chalet, boot hire, and experienced staff trained in the required health and safety procedures.

Could you solve a murder mystery?

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Was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick? Or was it your best friend in the kitchen with a lamp? There’s only one way to find out… Have a Murder Mystery Dinner Party!

If you and your friends like acting, dressing up in costumes, mysteries, and/or the classic board game Clue, a murder mystery party is the event for you! Even if these activities aren’t real hobbies of your friends, you’d be surprised at how much fun you can have at a murder mystery party. Here are a few helpful hints at turning your dinner party into a whodunit murder mystery…

Only invite your fun friends.

We all have that friend who gets a little moody when they aren’t choosing the group activity. We love them anyway, but if you don’t think they’ll play along and have fun, maybe don’t invite them this time. For this kind of party, you’ll want to your guests to be as involved as possible and excited to play along.

Decide on scripted vs. unscripted.

If your friends are quick on their feet and ready to improvise, a script might not be necessary. However, for some, role playing doesn’t come as naturally and you may want a script to fall back on. Either way, send out your invitations ideally 4-6 weeks in advance, complete with their new identity. If your party is scripted, this will give them plenty of time to learn their part. For unscripted events, it’s the perfect amount of time to develop their characters and get their costumes ready! Regardless of whether or not you opt for a script, each of your guests should have a complete background of their character so that they can play the part successfully to match your clues. No talking about your new found identity. It’s a secret!

Say yes..

The golden rule of improvisation is to never say no. To keep the plot and the conversation moving, you’ll want to always respond willingly to a situation and contribute to the conversation. Your role as the host is very important. You’ll be the only one who knows who everyone else is, and therefore, it is through your mixing, mingling, and question-asking that they will get to know each other.

Dinner is served.

When it comes to dinner, you’ll need to decide if you’d like a fancy, sit-down dinner or a buffet. For many hosts, a buffet is preferred, as it allows them to focus their attention on the guests. Whichever way you decide, we strongly suggest hiring a Caterer, Bartender, and a Waiter to help your event run smoothly. They’ll keep the food and drinks coming while you search for the killer!

Offer a prize.

In real-life murder mysteries, you may see that a reward of £25K is being issued. You probably don’t have £25k to hand out, but it adds to the fun to incentivize winning. Whoever cracks the case gets a trophy or another special prize! This will keep the competition lively. Alternatively, you can offer multiple prizes for not only the winner, but the best costume or the best performance.

Bring in the pros.

If you aren’t feeling confident with your ability to create and assign characters, write a script, or successfully place the clues, get some help. A lot of details go into pulling off a murder mystery party, but luckily, there are companies who will handle these details for you. Plus, they’ll come to your party and interact with the guests to move the story in the right direction.

Most importantly, just have fun. Murder mystery parties are unforgettable and your guests will have a great time dressing up and mingling with the other characters at your party. So, just enjoy it… and watch your back!

Bring the community together

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Local events are a great way to bring communities closer together. Whether you want to raise funds for a worthy cause, bring about positive change in your area, celebrate something special or simply get to know your neighbours, a community event will help rally the masses.

Deciding what type of event you should hold will depend on your goals, as well as the size and demographic of your target audience. However, here are 10 tried and trusted ideas for community events that should help get everyone together.

1. Host a street party

Street parties are now being held at any time, for all ages, to build community spirit at the street level. They are a more relaxed affair with attendees asked to bring a dish to share or with a barbecue arranged.

2. Put on a film screening

Who doesn’t enjoy watching a great movie on a big screen with a tub of tasty popcorn? You can organise a film screening at a local school, church, community centre or even outside, under the stars. Choose to screen a recent blockbuster or go for an old classic and embrace a theme, like ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ with guests encouraged to come in fancy dress.

On the other hand, if you have a message to get across or are marking a particular occasion you can choose a relevant movie i.e. ‘The Dam Busters’ to commemorate Remembrance Day or ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ to raise awareness about living with cancer.

But don’t forget, under UK copyright law, if you are playing films outside your domestic or home circle, you will need to obtain a licence to do so (even for free of charge events and fundraisers).

3. Organise a pub quiz

A quiz night with general knowledge questions can appeal to a broad audience, or you can target particular groups by focusing on specialist subjects, such as football or music. Theming your quiz can also give it an extra edge; for example, how about holding one on Halloween with questions about horror films, along with spooky decorations to get everyone in the spirit!

The hardest part of holding a quiz night is inevitably writing the questions. If you research your own trivia on the internet, then be careful how you select the sites you choose to get the questions from. Do not just crib from the first list of horror movie facts you come across – your participants may well have been on the same website!

4. Gather a gardening gang

If there’s a green space in your community that has seen better days, why not organise a group of volunteers to restore it to its former glory? Digging out weeds, picking litter and planting flowers will transform it into something for all to enjoy and encourage people to take an active part in caring for their local area.

Or perhaps your child’s school has an area of unused playing field that could be put to better use? Approach the PTA about turning it into a vegetable patch with the help of parents and pupils, growing produce for school dinners while teaching the children about where food comes from.

5. Hold a swap shop

Holding a swapping event can have both social and environmental benefits for your community. Not only does it minimise the number of unwanted items going to landfill, it also helps those in need – according to official statistics, there are 4 million children in the UK living in households that cannot afford to replace worn out or broken furniture and electrical items.

A swap shop is a cashless local event where people exchange unwanted items for something they do want. Not everyone needs to bring something – the more takers the better it will mean you will have very little left over at the end.

You may choose to have an event at a specific venue or simply a day when everyone puts their unwanted items out on the street and anyone can take what they want.

Just remember to notify the local council first and arrange for the anything not claimed to be taken to a local charity shop or furniture reuse organisation afterwards.

6. Organise an arts & crafts festival

In every community there are budding artists and craft enthusiasts that you could bring together by creating your own arts & crafts festival.

The term arts & crafts covers such a magnitude of different disciplines, that there really isn’t anything stopping you setting up stalls selling anything you want; from pottery to water colours, knitted wear to jewellery, there’ll be something for everyone to buy.

7. Use a themed day

There are a multitude of different themed days you could utilise; you only need to look at the internet to see how many “National’ days are out there.

A firm favourite, which will also help your local library, is World Book Day. The best way to get the community involved is by getting everyone to dress as their favourite character from any book they choose. This could mean dressing as Where’s Wally, The Cat in the Hat, Mr Darcy even! The possibilities are endless!

Invite local authors, or even famous authors who have ties to your community. You can organise a selection of readings with an open-mic night, and why not organise a poetry competition and get a local bookshop to donate prizes?

8. Organise a performance

Amateur dramatics has been a long standing part of the community, so why not gather some aspiring thespians together and organise a show?

This doesn’t have to be on a stage in the community hall, why not change things up and create a walking performance? Get the audience to follow a set course around town, where they can watch parts of the play in certain areas. Have your actors do scenes or interact with the audience in-between stops, making them part of the performance.

Use the seasons to your advantage to entice people to see your performance. Everyone loves getting into the Christmas Spirit around December, so why not perform ‘A Christmas Carol’? Or you could make use of a nearby forest or gardens to perform ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ when the summer months are here.

9. Food Festival/Farmer’s Market

Who can say no to delicious food? Especially when the town is filled with the most amazing smells!

Whether you get some local farmers, caterers or local food shops together, this is a great way to highlight the local produce and local sellers in the area. As well as getting to eat all the delicious food at the event, people will know they will be able to buy this produce locally on any other given day.

Why not think Great British Bake Off and ask the community to create their own showstopper cakes and raffle them off. No one can turn down cake, especially if you have a tea stand nearby!

10. Fireworks / Bonfire Night

Fireworks always brings in the crowds. There is something about lighting up the sky that just amazes people. Add a bonfire to the equation and you have a perfect winter event. Serve hearty food like jacket potatoes, with a hot chocolate (maybe a Baileys hot chocolate for the adults) and you’ll keep the crown fed, watered, and more importantly, warm!

You may be limited to using fireworks to certain nights of the year like Guy Fawkes Night and New Year’s Eve, but there isn’t anything stopping you having your own bonfire night with all the added activities to go with it, like lighting sparklers and toasted marshmallows.

Ideas for November the 5th

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Fireworks Night, otherwise known as Guy Fawkes’ Night or Bonfire Night, is a quintessentially UK celebration, marking the time that Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators didn’t blow up the Houses of Parliament on the 5th November.

To many that haven’t grown up with this ‘holiday’, it might not seem an event worth celebrating but as many of us in the UK know, it’s become more of an excuse to watch some fireworks, wrap up in cosy clothing, eat hearty food and drink warming beverages, all whilst getting toasty by the bonfire.

Fireworks

It’s an obvious one of course, but if you’re hosting a Fireworks Night event, fireworks are a must! If you don’t think you’ll feel safe running the display yourself, you could hire a company to come in and do them for you.

If you do tackle the display yourself, make sure you do so responsibly and safely, and adhere to Government safety rules. And with fireworks, must come sparklers too, so make sure you get plenty of these, as people do love them!

Bonfire

Another staple of any Fireworks Night is the bonfire. Although this was originally to burn the Guy, this is a great way to keep everyone toasty during the night and can even be used to cook some bonfire treats.

There are different options of sizes, form the huge centrepiece fire, to little ones, to the smoke-free burning log pictured. Whilst staring into fire can be mesmerising, why not add some colour to your flames to add something extra special to your event?

Guy Fawkes

As mentioned before, this is the traditional origins of the night. People would make Guy Fawkes, which we call ‘a Guy’. This would normally be made out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper, or hay and added on to the bonfire as the main event.

If you’re not looking to be as traditional as this, you could always have some of the masks of Guy Fawkes, that feature in the film V for Vendetta, or why not make a bonfire cake with a little Guy Fawkes on top?

Bonfire Night Food

Catering at events is important; mainly because it’s a great way of warming up the crowds with some hearty food. Serving jacket potatoes has always been a classic, but why not take this further with these shepherd’s pies, cooked in a baked potato shell?

Cooking a large dish of chilli is always a crowd pleaser and is easy to make in a big batch. Or why not consider cooking up some bangers with a bit of fire (keeping it on theme) by adding some chilli for chilli sausages?

Decorative food

Whilst hearty food may keep everyone warm, it’s worth making some visually pleasing treats that fit in with the theme of the night, like bonfire cakes, firework cookies and chocolate sparklers.

Conclusion

There are different ways to approach Fireworks Night, whether you decide to go for something traditional, with traditional food and drink; or decide to go all-out and add a few twists and turns to surprise your guests, creating more of a spectacle. Whatever you do, make sure everyone is warm, cosy, safe and enjoying some of that autumnal fresh air!